[PSUscaper]

Been working on quite a few plans this year and wanted to see if anyone knows if there is a economical gps unit that can be used for data collection.

Basically, I'm looking for a device that can take, record, and then import into CAD field data needed for design work.

With recent developments in GPS, I'm wondering if there is a 'economical' and more simple device to do field measurements with.

Is there a 'cheap' handheld gps unit out there that will let me take measurements and then import them into CAD???

I'm not looking for the accuracy required by engineers, just close readings.

I've found a few units that are accurate in the range of 1-3 meters, and some that are accurate within 1 meter and price out in the range of 3-6k.

The one that looks like it may do the job is the the trimble geoxt pocket pc, which is in the 5k range. It looks like it would do the trick.....but.....that is more than I want to spend at this point.

heres the trimble.....

http://store.esri.com/esri/showdetl....Category_ID=63

It seems to have what I'm looking for, being accurate within 1 meter, being portable, being simpler to use, and being compatible with CAD. . . . just a tad pricy though!

Anyone out there playing with GPS units??? Is there a lower cost unit out there that will give 'good enough for landscape design' measurements but not break the bank???? It seems like GPS prices are dropping every day, so I just want to see if anyone knows something that might work without setting up a full blown surverying station. With the way laser transits have dropped in price, I would think there may be something out there in a price range that is affordable.

I know this may seem a little crazy to some, but as the projects get larger and larger, it takes forever to collect field data, and it seems I'm always going back because of accuracy problems. I'm still deciding if the time saved in collecting information would be worth the cost, and also, deciding if I may be getting into something so complicated that the time I save is lost in 'the technology sand pit of time' that makes things take just as long as doing things using less advanced techniques.

[trees]

I've seen the same things and seems to me like it would be a HUGE time saver, but...

Just like you have seen, they're all WAY to high-priced for me. Cheapest I've seen is $3k. I'll wait a few years till they come down a little.

[Dale Wiley]

I am going to get a laser range finder. A hunting / shooting buddy has one and they are handy. Just point it and you get the range measurement, very accurate.

Saves a lot of time when measuring a larer or even medium size lot.

[Mac]

Dale, do you have a link to that?

[Dale Wiley]

Here you go right to the page

this is my favorite store.....

Laser Rangefinders

[Paul]

Well unless they have improved the receivers, things like trees, buildings, overhead wires seem to make gps's lose signals causing data loss. The biggest problem is how many people need that kind of accuracy? Most are just looking for to find out where to turn on what street, or get them to the next fishing hole or deer stand so + or - 20' is no big deal but your looking for + or - 3' with buildings and an interface that lets you down load to cad! Not what I call a big market. Look at lasers levels, a good flat package is running around $800 but jump to a single slope laser and you've doubled you investment add dual slopes and you at $5K to $7K, see my point? Once everyone needs a package like your talking about no problem price will be around $1K until then figure it will stay in the mid 4 figures.

[HRLand]

I have thought about this also but the acuracy would be way off on a cheaper model. I have a tracking unit in my maintenance truck which gets downloaded to the pc to show me where the trucks been, for how long and how fast it's being driven. Sometimes the line on the map will cut right through an entire neighborhood.

[chesie]

Is this the same unit?

http://www.visualimpactimaging.com/p.../gps/index.htm

At any rate the price is quite a bit cheaper.

[4seasons]

chesie
do you have that gps? I have the visual impact program and love how nice it is to work with. I was wondering if it actually saves that much time. thanks


Bruce

[chesie]

No I don't have it. Just happened to see it in a trade mag after seeing this thread here.

[Bill Schwab]

$3500.00 for something about the size of a hand held phaser gun....

Along with what Paul and others have saidd, I have to ask this.

How long do you project it will take to recover the cost of this aparatus?
How much does the visula impact program cost, and how long will it take you to recover that cost?

Here is what I guess I will never under stand with certain software programs.

You can buy a machine that will cut field labor and easily see and project when that machine will break even and start making money for you. With this thing, you just put 10% of a skid steer down that could normally bill $125.00 an hour for. It's pretty easy to calculate that after 30 billable hours, that cost is recovered.

Most companies are not ever going to be able to recover that cost with the amount of design work they do. In theory, it looks like it could be a fun toy. In reality, taking readings around all the stucco buildings in the subdivisions we work in, there is too much room for error, and with that cost at $3500.00, it better damn well not miss a beat.

[4seasons]

Bill
I can't afford something like that! Its fun to dream thou. and my program cost $900 and its paid for itself already.

[PSUscaper]

Bill.......I understand where you are coming from. It is hard to justify the expense, and perhaps, right now, the cost of the units is a bit high to make business sense....

However, not all items are purchased to make business sense.

Just got a remote starter in my truck........does that make business sense? Am I ever going to recover that money??? No.

But, does it make my life a whole lot easier......hek yah, especially on those cold mornings where I'm in a hurry and don't feel like waiting for a diesel engine to warm up.

On the other hand, do you want to show pictures of all your trucks???? I bet you would never get anything excessive on them.....you know, like chrome wheels, extra lights, pin-striping, leather interior, chrome bumpers, etc. etc.....I mean, those things surely make you money, don't they???? NO one ever spends $3500 on a bunch of truck accesories, Right????

You most likely have, but maybe have forgotten, what it is like to take property measurements for a plan. Even stand in the rain, the cold, windy days measureing a property for hours on end, and then get back to the office and figure out you missed something, or something doesn't seem to work out, and you have to drive back to the site to take a measurement???

Or how bout this one......you have this gps unit and the client you are working for sees it........what usually happens???

I'll tell, they go "wow, that's really cool!" ....and does it not improve the view the client has of you and your company to see that you are using the latest technology??? Or are they too busy looking at all the flashy chrome on the trucks your crews drive to notice???

I just would like to say I like the idea of being on the 'cutting edge".....Do you know how many times people are impressed because I have a computer drafted plan rather than a hand sketched one????

Granted, for $3500, it is a bit pricy.....but I gurantee prices will come down soon. And maybe 'by the numbers' it doesn't make sense, but there's others benefits that that such technology has to offer that are often overlooked.

[Dale Wiley]

Just got a remote starter in my truck........does that make business sense? Am I ever going to recover that money??? No.

Not around here...people go out and start their vehicles in the morning and then go back in the house to get some coffee...the local meth monkeys come out of the bushes and jack the car..OR the local police or deputy's pull in your drive way and start scratching you a ticket for $ 370.

For the size of projects we do, I use a wheel and if the weather is bad, a pocket recorder to take my diminsions down, and estimate the elevations. I am good at this after 27 years, I go to the office, enter it into the software, round up, add the error factor and go from there.